Ibanez PM20 anyone ?

**hebaton** · 08-12-2023, 09:06 PM

HI all, trying to find info /opinions on the Ibanez PM20
I don't find much other than it was made for 3 years at the Cort factory. I have one here on tryout, I really like it. Just not sure of the value.
How ould it compare to the PM2 AA or other Pat Metheney models...
I can get this for 1500 CAD ( about 1100 USD ) Fair price ???

Would love to hear from poeple who have owned one or played one...

**Jimmy blue note** · 08-12-2023, 09:51 PM

Have one and I love it. It's a solid well made instrument with a very comfortable body and neck. It's based on the guitar Ibanez first made for Pat Metheny, the one he played for many years. The design of his (instrument like the JP20) was not unlike the excellently designed Joe Pass JP20 except Pat's had a mahogany neck for warmth (like a 175) and a tune-0-matic bridge.
The PM20 doesn't have the wood tailpiece that Pat's had but in all the ways that count, it's a really great production of Pat's first workhorse from Ibanez.
I've seen them in a dark finish (ranging from grey charcoal type finish to almost black) and a blonde version like Pat's. Often they'll go for a little over a thousand USD in good shape.

Compared with other PM models? The Fujigen models are top of the line beautiful guitars and the ones that have the high fret access (Howard Roberts type cutaway) are different and much more expensive.

That PM20 is surely a big bang for the buck member of the 175-type family. Serious professional grade guitar at an affordable price. Somewhere around or just above 1000 USD is fair and about where the market is, from what I've seen.

**Cunamara** · 08-12-2023, 10:35 PM

Ibanez JP10?

**Jimmy blue note** · 08-13-2023, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

Ibanez JP10?

20 is what I meant. Why do they put the 2 up there in the corner so close to the 1? Bet they do it just to cause typos. Mea culpa. Joe Pass model anyway.

**pingu** · 08-13-2023, 06:23 AM

ok just for accuracy

PM20 is 24.75 scale guitar
made in Korea

(not dissing Korean made guitars …. I play one myself)

PM200 , 24.75 scale made in Japan , still made

JP20 25.5” scale Japanese made
(and with the PU moved towards the bridge a bit)

**Tal_175** · 08-13-2023, 08:54 AM

I got my PM20 for the same price mentioned in the OP. It was in a pristine condition. I also have an ES 175. They are very different IMO. PM20 sounds woodier so to speak but it also has more sustain.

**hebaton** · 08-13-2023, 09:08 AM

Still liking it a lot, I would prefer an ebony fingerboard however... I am debating bying this, or springing for a used PM200
or an AF2000. Very different I know, probably more versatile. but the tones and yes, the sustain I hear from ( actually only from recordings ) the PM200 arevery very tempting.

**pingu** · 08-13-2023, 07:23 PM

If you want a long sustain ….

a solid guitar or even a semi
335 type might be better ….

hollow body jazz boxes
don’t have long sustain generally

**MikeTT** · 08-13-2023, 08:37 PM

It's still the best lower priced PM model they ever made IMO, at least it was closer to Methenys prototype than the later models. E.g. it has the deeper cutaway. I'm still waiting for a used one showing up here, lol.

**hebaton** · 08-13-2023, 08:50 PM

I already have a custom shop 335

**Jimmy blue note** · 08-14-2023, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by MikeTT

It's still the best lower priced PM model they ever made IMO, at least it was closer to Methenys prototype than the later models. E.g. it has the deeper cutaway. I'm still waiting for a used one showing up here, lol.

I've tried or worked on all the different models. That first one was the one I also felt had the most responsive and liveliest acoustic response. Not so much that it'd feed back or anything, but responsive so it felt alive to play. That's just one person's opinion, but of the bunch, the Korean PM20 we're talking about had a responsive woody feel to it. I was working at Ibanez when I got one so I was able to put an ebony tailpiece onto mine. It didn't matter if it was the choice that was actually on Pat's at the time, it did help contribute to an instrument that's simply an inspiring instrument to make music on. Yeah I like them.

**hebaton** · 08-14-2023, 06:35 AM

Do you know if the tail piece from the LGB30 would fit there ? I beleiveyou can order them from Ibanez parts...
Buy the way, where at Ibanez did you work ? Us distribution ?

**Jimmy blue note** · 08-14-2023, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by hebaton

Do you know if the tail piece from the LGB30 would fit there ? I beleiveyou can order them from Ibanez parts...
Buy the way, where at Ibanez did you work ? Us distribution ?

You can make any tailpiece work, maybe not an exact screw to screw fit but yes, it will fit with the minimum of work and it'd be solid and you won't see the holes.
I worked at US distribution of Hoshino in Bensalem PA.

**hebaton** · 08-14-2023, 07:10 AM

Do you know what "version" of the Super58 was on those ? It looks to me like a cheap Asian one but, It actually sounds nice...

**dconeill** · 08-14-2023, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by hebaton

HI all, trying to find info /opinions on the Ibanez PM20 ...
.

I don't and haven't owned an Ibanez PM20. You might be able to find out a bit about the model from the page at Ibanez fan Wiki page for the PM20. But maybe you've already seen this.

**Cunamara** · 08-14-2023, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note

20 is what I meant. Why do they put the 2 up there in the corner so close to the 1? Bet they do it just to cause typos. Mea culpa. Joe Pass model anyway.

I thought maybe I had completely missed something worth knowing about!

**Jimmy blue note** · 08-15-2023, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by Cunamara

I thought maybe I had completely missed something worth knowing about!

Ah! For that, you had to work for Ibanez. They had a secret room. One day a year they'd open it up for employees to rummage through. All sorts of prototypes that never made it or never got endorsed. Truly a room of wonders. That's why I worked there. Flying V's that would have brought down a lawsuit, Bruce Forman prototypes like a Joe Pass but in blonde, that kind of stuff they made. Those thin body single cutaways you saw on Sco's album once. Freaky great ideas that were too good to be made public ha ha.